NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A two-alarm blaze gutted a two-story State Road home on Monday afternoon leaving four people homeless.

A Facebook page has been set up to coordinate help and raise funds for the two couples, who lost everything in the blaze.

According to Fire Director Steve Meranti, firefighters were called to the apartment building at the corner of Protection Avenue and State Street around noon after an off-duty police officer reported heavy smoke and shooting flames.

All off-duty firefighters were called to the scene, where heavy winds spread the fire throughout nooks and crannies on the topmost floors, he said. The fire built up in the ceiling and firefighters needed to call for backup.

Firefighters had to break through the roof of State Road home to battle a blaze that gutted the structure.

"The wind contributed considerably," Meranti said. "It was a tough one. The guys took a wicked beating."

Additional difficulty came because the department was restricted by power lines on Protection Avenue and National Grid had to disconnect power.

Firefighters removed the building's roof to get at the blaze in the attic. The home was vacant when the fire was reported and no one was injured.

"It's a total loss on the second and third [attic] floors," Meranti said. "Everybody has been accounted for."

There are two apartments housing two people in each, according to Meranti. The fire appeared to have begun in a second-floor bedroom, he said.

"I don't remember being at a fire that big since I was a kid," Mayor Richard Alcombright said, who was at the scene.

The fire closed traffic on Route 2 between Protection Avenue and Roberts Drive for more than two hours. Motorists were detoured over Massachusetts Avenue.

Adams Fire Department also assisted on the scene and Clarksburg Fire Department was on standby in the city's station. The cause of the fire is not yet known and investigation will continue on Tuesday when the fire marshall arrives to the scene.

"It does not appear to be suspicious but we haven't ruled anything out yet," Meranti said.

Firefighters remained on the scene Monday night to watch for hotspots.

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Sorry to see this happen this time of the year. N.A.F.D did a great job. People can say what they want about the Fire Dept. but when it comes time they do there job and do it well. Thanks guys. Great pictures too. Thank you iberkshires for being on top of your game.

There is a page on facebook for anyone willing to contribute ideas on ways to help.
There is also a link on that page to submit donations through PayPal- all of which will go directly to the families that lost their home.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Help-Victims-of-State-Road-Fire/174769745887804

“Great job.” Interesting, is the glass half full or half empty? I see it as doing the job they wanted and getting paid for it. What the NAFD did was this, responded to a house fire that when the call was received, was already destroyed. So, upon arrival the sprayed water on a f ire which helped reduce the possibility of it spreading. Great job? No. Properly doing the job you’re paid to do? Absolutely! Although this is certainly a tragedy, No one was seriously injured or worse. Lets all hope the families can get back on their feet soon and the burns the fireman received are not serious.

When a family is displaced by a fire housing is crucial. Nothing wrong with offering a place to rent if it is available. The families can decide after viewing...relax sari. North Adams Fire Dept. ROCKS! Thanks to Adams Fire Dept. for assisting and Clarksburg for backing up North Adams, you all ROCK too. We live in a great community and should support each other. My heart goes out to the families that lost their home and belongings. Thank God no one was hurt.